Valve-spring compressor.



ATTORNEY A. B. LOCKHART. VALVE SPRING COMPRESSDR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 19H'.

Patented May 14 A INVENTOR WITN ESSES ANDREW B. LOCKIIART, 0F REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA. VALVE-SPRING CGMPRESSOB- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1918.

Application led July 24, '1917. Serial No. 182,433.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW B. LocKHART, n citizen of the United States, residin at Redlands, in the county of San Bernar mo, and State of California, have invented a new and useful Valve-Spring Compressor, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a valve spring compressor, and more particularly to the class of tools or devices for facilitating the removal of engine valves.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a tool or device of this character, wherein the spring for an engine valve, which holds the latter upon its seat, can be readily compressed with despatch for the easy removal of the key from the stem of the valve to permit the extracting of said valve from its casing, so that said valve or seat may be convenientl ground.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tool or device of this character, which can be readily applied and adjusted, and also will be positive in operation, to sustain the spring in any desired degree of compression, wit out manual exertion for this purpose, and avoidin the possibility of the bendin of the stem o the valve, the tool being ready operated and the leverage giving a powerful compression force and assuring ease in operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tool or device of this character, which is extremely simple in construetion, readily and easil operated, stron et light in weight, durab e, thoroughly re 1a le and ellicient 'n its operation, and inexpensive in manu acture.

With theseand other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the c aims hereunto appended. However,4 it is to be understood that changes, variations and modicatlons may be made such as come properly within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advanta es.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, through a valve casing, showing in side elevation the tool or device constructed in accordance with the invention tapplied, a portion of the latter being in seclon.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 3 is a able gib.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view, showinjntop plan the forked end of the lever.

millar reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures.

In constructing a practical embodiment of the invention in accordance with the illustrated example, the frame 5 is provided, preferably comprising a single plate which 1s bent on itself at opposite ends into substantially U-formation to constitute guides or cleats 6 and 7, respectively, the plate being preferablyy cut away, as at 8, at an unoccupied portion or portions to assure lightness or the reduction in the weight thereof without weakening the same, and spaced from the guide or cleat 7 on the frame is a raised portion providing an abutment rib 9, which extends transversel of the plate arallel with the free edge o the guide or dlcat 7 for a purpose presently described.

Slidably enga ed in the guide or cleat 7 on the rame 5 is t e vertical adjustable leg of a substantially L-shaped arm 10, the horizontal leg of which is flattened and bifurcated at 11 to -form a forked terminal 12 and adapted to engage the vertical le of the arm 10 is a wedging block 13 which is inserted between the rib 9 and the edge adjacent thereto of the arm 10 whenengaged in the guide or cleat 7, so that the arm can be locked or held fast in adjusted osition. Passed through the block 13 is a olt 14, which is also passed through the frame 5 and carries a knurled nut 15, which tightens against the frame 5, and in the use of the bolt and nut, the block 13 can be wedged between,the rib 9 and the vertical leg of the` arm 10 for securely holdin justed position, as will be o vious.

Slidably fitted in the guide or cleat 6 on the frame 5 isa centerin pin 16, which is formed with a toothed rac 17 meshin with a segment r 18. Rotatably jollrn ed at one side o the frame 5, the journal 19 of which is passed through the frame and has fixed thereto an operating handle 20 at the other side of the frame, so that the gear can be manually rotated for the operation of perspective view of the adjustthe arm in adthe tool or device. Fitted Within the. ide or cleat 6 is an adjustable (gib 21, whlc at the ends thereof is forme with right an- 1rular ears 22 to engage with opposite edges of the guide or cleat 6 at the closed side thereof to prevent displacement longitudinally of said ib within the rib or cleat, and threaded in t e closed side of the guide or cleat are square headed adjusting screws 23, which work against the 'b 21 for adjusting the same against the rac end portion 17 of the centering'pin 16, so as to take up wear and assure the positive meshing of the rack teeth 17 with the gear 18, the screws 23 being fitted with lock nuts 24, which secure the saine in their adjusted position.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing there is illustrated a valve A engaging a valve seat B in the valve easin C, the stem D of the valve B being slidabe through the casing C and surrounding this stern is the coiled spring E which sustains the valve A closed and engaged in its seat B, the spring E being held active upon the stern through the medium of the retaining key F as usual.

Pivotally mounted on the frame 5 is a dog or pavvl 26 for engagement with the gear 18, So as to lock the same to sustain the arm 10 in raised or lowered'position relative to the in 16 on movement of the frame 5 when the handle 20 has been actuated by the user of the device.

Now, in the application of the tool or device, the handle 20 for operating the ar 18 is brought to the position shown in ig. 1 of the drawing, and the centering in 16 which at its engagi end is formed) with a point 27 is engage with the valve A in the center thereof, he point 27 being engaged in the usual central depression in said valve to prevent the slipping of the centering in, and the arm 10 at its forked extremity 12 receives in the bifurcation 11 the lower end of the Stem D 0f said valve A, so that the tool or device is in the osition shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing to-le operated for complressing the spring` E for the removal oft e retaining key from the valve stem D, so that the valve can be extracted from the valve casing C for the grinding of the Nalve or its. seat B in said casing. On raisintghthe handle 20, the gou' 18 is rotated and e frame 5 is moved upwardly on the rack end 17 of the centering pin 18, it being understood, of course, that the arm 10 is secured in its adjusted position and this movement of the frame upwardly compresses the sprin E to a suflicient degree for permitting te easy removal of the retaining key F from the stem D. of the valve A, so that the valve can be readily removed from the casing C on releasing the tool or device from the valve and its stem.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction and manner of operation of the invention will be clearly understood, and, therefore, a more extended explanation has been omitted.

What is claimed is z- 1. A tool of the character described comprising a plate-like frame formed with uide cleats at opposite ends, a substantially -shaped arm slidably received in one of the cleats and having a forked terminal, a wedging fastener carried by the frame and engageable with the arm to hold the same in adjusted position thereon, a toothed rack slidable in the other cleat and having a centering pin, a gear rotatably journaled on tho frame and meshingr with the toothed rack, and 'a handle for rotating the gear.A

2. A tool of the character described comprising a plate-like frame formed with ide cleats at opposite ends, a substantially -shaped arm slidably received in one of the cleats and having a forked terminal, a wedging fastener carried by the frame and en ageable with the arm to hold the same in adjusted position thereon, a toothed rack slidable in the other cleat4 and havin a centering pin, a gear rotatably journale on the frame and meshing with the toothed rack, a handle for rotating the gear, and an adjustable gib acting a ainst the toothed rack and held within the c eat receiving the same.

3. A tool of the character described com` prising a plate-like frame formed with guide cleats at opposite ends, a substantially L-shaped arm slidably received in one of the cleats and having a forked terminal, a wedging fastener carried by the frame and engageable with the arm to hold the same in adjusted position thereon, a toothed rack slidable in the other cleat and having a centering pin, a gear rotatably journaled on the frame and meshing with the toothed rack, a handle for rotating the gear, an adjustable gib actin against the the toothed rack and held wit in the cleat receiving the same, and means for locking the gear against movement.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW B. LOCKHART.

Witnesses:

H. L. FINE,

W. I. Locxwoon. 

